Chapter Seven: The Truth
Lily whimpered from her crib.
Harper automatically started to rise.
Russo beat her to it.
Moving with that same surprising grace to check on her.
She watched as he adjusted her blanket.
His large hand gentle as he felt her forehead.
“The fever’s still high.”
He said, returning to the living room.
“She needs medicine.”
Harper forced herself to her feet, wavering slightly.
Russo steadied her with a hand on her elbow.
The contact sending that same unexpected jolt through her.
“I’ll get it.”
Together, they administered the medicine to Lily.
She fought it weakly before succumbing to sleep again.
Standing over her crib, Harper felt tears threatening.
She was so small.
So vulnerable.
All Harper wanted was to give her a better life than this.
But every day felt like she was falling further behind.
Drowning in a sea of bills and exhaustion.
“She deserves better than this.”
Russo said quietly.
Echoing her thoughts with such accuracy that she stared at him in surprise.
“Yes, she does.”
Harper admitted.
“Then accept my offer.”
He turned to face her fully.
“Come work for me. Give her the life she deserves.”
Put like that, how could she refuse?
And yet something held her back.
“I need time to think about it.”
“Take the night.”
He conceded.
“I’ll send a car for you tomorrow at noon. If you accept, be packed and ready to leave. If not—”
He shrugged.
“The choice is yours.”
With that, he moved toward the door.
Pausing with his hand on the knob.
“One of my men will remain outside your door tonight. For security.”
Before she could ask why she would need security, he was gone.
Leaving behind only the scent of his cologne.
And a decision that would change the course of her life forever.
She slept fitfully that night.
Waking every hour to check on Lily.
Her fever finally broke around dawn.
Her little body cooling as the medicine did its work.
Harper held her close.
Breathing in her sweet baby scent.
Her mind racing with the implications of Russo’s offer.
On one hand, it solved all her immediate problems.
Healthcare for Lily.
A place to live.
Financial stability.
On the other hand, she’d be tying herself to a man she knew nothing about.
Except that he had the kind of power that made restaurant managers pale at the mention of his name.
Morning brought no clarity.
She fed Lily, relieved to see her appetite returning.
Began mechanically sorting through their meager possessions.
If she accepted his offer—and she was leaning heavily toward doing so—what would she take?
What would she leave behind?
In the end, it didn’t amount to much.
Clothes for both of them.
The few books she couldn’t bear to part with.
The ceramic dancer and the photo of Lily.
Everything that mattered fit into two duffel bags and Lily’s diaper bag.
At exactly noon, a knock came at her door.
She opened it to find a man in a dark suit.
His expression professionally blank.
“Ms. Wilson. Mr. Russo sent me to drive you. If you’ve made your decision.”
She hesitated only a moment.
Then nodded.
“I’ll come with you.”
He took her bags without comment.
Led them to a waiting car.
Not the SUV from last night.
A sleek town car with tinted windows.
He installed Lily’s car seat with practiced efficiency.
Making Harper wonder if Russo’s men were regularly tasked with such domestic duties.
As they pulled away from the curb, she looked back at the building that had been their home for the past year.
She felt no regret at leaving it behind.
Only gnawing anxiety about what lay ahead.
